Apple Platforms Generate $25 Million for Gameloft in 2009

Apple’s iPhone and iPod Touch have been a major boon for mobile game makers. Developers are hopeful that the launch of the iPad will yield even more opportunities, but for now the massive iPhone installed base has been serving them well. Gameloft has been a big beneficiary of the iPhone boom. Last month, the publisher announced that it exceeded 10 million paid app downloads on the App Store and this week Gameloft noted that App Store revenues grew to 17.6 million euros (about $25 million) last year.

Total revenues at Gameloft grew 11% to 122 million euros despite the fact that the company’s fourth quarter saw a 6% sales dip “due to Gameloft’s withdrawal from boxed games in January 2009 and to the drop in the dollar.” Mobile games accounted for 94% of the company’s sales in 2009, while console games took up the remaining 6% of sales.

The French developer saw 39% of its full-year sales in 2009 come from Europe, while North America accounted for 32% and the rest of the world made up 29% of revenues. Profitability is up as well, as Gameloft said its operating margin before stock options is expected to reach between 8% and 9% in 2009 compared to 3% in 2008.

Gameloft is forecasting even more growth for 2010. “In the long term, Gameloft is in an ideal position to benefit from the rapid emergence of digitally distributed video games on mobile phones, tablets, consoles and from major technological innovations brought to the market by companies such as Apple, Palm, Nokia and Google,” the publisher stated.